Ultrasonic apparatus and methods of comminution



pl 18, 1961 D. B. KEcEcloGLU ETAL 2,980,345

VULTRAsoNIc APPARATUS AND METHODS oF COMMINUTION Filed Feb. 1o', 195e 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 18, 1951 D. B. .KEcEcloGLU ErAl.- 2,980,345

ULTRAsoNIC APPARATUS AND METHODS oF COMMINUTION Filed Feb. 10., 1958 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. B. KEcEcloGLU 'E1-AL 2,980,345

f ULTRASONIC APPARATUS AND METHODS OF' COMMINUTION April 1s, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 1Q, 1958 www j 0W M .A LM @A P fr@ N Mw m i April 1s, 1961 Filed F'eb. l0, 1958 NATURAL FREQUENCY, cps.

D. B. KEcEcloGLU ETAL 2,980,345

ULTRASONIC' APPARATUS AND METHODS OF COMMINUTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SLATE TRAPROCK LIMESTONE MARBLE GRANITE SANDSTONE QUARTZ THICKNESS IN INCHES tional elements `acting on the material.

ULTRASONIC APPARATUS AND METHODS F COMB/fINU'IGN Dimitri B. Kececioglu and Robert T. Baugh, Milwaukee, and Thomas R. Hoirnann, Madison, Wis., assignors to Allis-Chaimers Manufacturing Company, lviiiwaukee, Wis.

Filed Feb. 10, '1958, Ser. No. 714,200

l Claims. (Cl. 241-1) The invention relates generally to the art of material comminution and more particularly to ultrasonic apparatus and methods for obtaining size reduction of solid particles.

For many years there has been an unfulfilled need for comminution apparatus which would obviate the disadvantages inherent in the more conventional devices in use today, such as gyratory, cone, jaw Crushers and the like, which effect comminution by utilizing bearing surfaces of the structure itself in contact with the material to be comminuted to apply compressive and shear forces upon the material. in operation, these bearing surfaces are subject to great wear and, by attrition, abrasion, etc., rapidly deteriorate. Frequently, the members and elements providing these surfaces completely fail through rupture and the like and must thereforeA be replaced at no small cost. The replacement of such members and elements also causes the entire device to be shut down which results in costly loss of production time.

Generally, the present invention contemplates apparatus and methods for comminuting solid particles by the generation and controlled direction of ultrasonic waves. Although various ultrasonic devices have heretofore been proposed to reduce the size of solid particles, the present invention utilizes principles not heretofore appliedy by any of these devices.

Of course the present invention has certain broad features which were utilized in some of the known prior devices such as the utilization of a rotating'slotted impeller continuously breaking radially disposed continuously l owing jet streams to generate waves of ultrasonic frequency. However these devices utilized ultrasonic waves to actuate additional elements, such as reeds, balls, cham-iy ber diaphragms and the like, which in turn acted upon the solid matter. rihese devices possessed the common disadvantages in that they lost considerable energy in the successive energy transfers required for operation and that the additional elements were rapidly consumed.

On the other hand, quite unlike the known prior art devices, the present invention provides a comminution by the controlled direction and concentration of ultrasonic waves into direct engagement with particles of solid matter passing through a central comminution region. ln addition the present invention provides means whereby the origin of the ultrasonic waves corresponds or simulates one focus of a sonically reflective compartment in which the inner surface of the compartment reflects the waves into a seconder finite focus to deiine the comminution region of the apparatus. Still further, the present invention allows`a direct energy. transfer from the ultrasonic waves to the material particles and obviates the requirement for consumable addi- Other novel features will readily appear from the following description of the embodiments and modications herein chosen to exemplify the present invention. ,Y

Accordingly, Vone of the 'prime objects of the present inventionY is the provision of apparatus and methods for asians' 2 comminuting solid materials utilizing the effect of concentrated ultrasonic Waves upon individual material particles to fracture the particles. y

Another prime object of the present invention is the provision of comminution apparatus capable of generating and controlling the path of ultrasonic waves of selectable frequencies and of directing both the flow of the ultrasonic waves and the flow of solids into a common focal region.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of comminution apparatus in which the inner surface of a comminution chamber is utilized to concentrate and focus ultrasonic waves into a central region for engaging a ilow of feed material passing therethrough.

Still another object. of the present invention is the provision of comminuticn apparatus having a sonically reflective chamber characterized by having two focal regions, at least one of which is disposed at a finite locus Within the chamber.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of comminution apparatus in which ultrasonic Waves are generated from a locus corresponding to or simulating one focal region of the comminution chamber and are reectable by the inner surface thereof into another focal region therein.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide comminution apparatus and methods in which material size reduction is effected by the out-of-phase vibration of various parts of an individual feed particle at its resonance in response to a concentration of ultrasonic waves of selective frequency approximating the natural frequency thereof focusing thereupon.

These and still further objects as may appear are fullled by the present invention in a manner readily discerned from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing: l

Fig. 1 is an isometric view, partially broken away,

of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;v

ak modified Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are geometric showings of the pat-` terns of sonic reiection employed by three embodiments of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a chart comparing the natural frequency (in c.p.s.) of certain exemplary materials usable inthe practice of the present invention with its thickness (in inches).

In the drawing, apparatus exemplifying the present invention is indicated generally' at 11 and (see Fig. 1') includes a housing i2 which by the contour of its inner surface i3, the special significance of which will be more thoroughly considered in subsequent paragraphs, denes a comminution chamber 14 having a material inlet 15 and a material outlet 16.

The material inlet 15 comprises ak guide portion 21 for channeling feed material through a tubular portion p 22Yinto'chamber'14. Tubular portion'l is provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending annular ange 23 and is threaded at itsjupper end 24J whereby it engages the threads of a suitable loclcring 25 and is locked in suspendedv relationship from top plate k26 of the apparatus 11. y i

-1Means for generating ultrasonic waves such as ultraftialalignment Withth'e peripheral'opening of the respec- V tivelslots 41. The air jets 51 are supplied by a suitableY compressed air system (not Vshown).i Each 'of' the air Vjets 5l are positioned stationary relativetohousing 12 52 suitably secured as ,withY bolts 53.'V Y

,by a flanged sleeve 25YV cidentwith the axis of material'flow and providesrneans effect of dispersngithe points'of Ywave impingement may 'alsrolbe realized by alteringy theshape of theorilic'es of Y thevaioussair jets -as well `asby,varyingrtheiV YarcuateV contours ofV surfaces 42. f A' 'i sonic generator 31, is rotatably Ymounted about tubular portion 22 for movementrelativel thereto and Vis provided with `a pair Vof Ysuitable bearings 32, 33.

' Generator .31 comprisesa'generally cylindrical irnpellerY Y 34 having a first portion 35 extending'axially with tubu- 5 Ylar portion 22`for a with bearings 32, 33

, art, the velocity Vofthe impeller and 'therefore the relative movement between the slots 41 andV the air jets can be controlled -to'a'chieve the desired ultrasonic frequency.

.. Since frequency isV equal to the impeller speed times the number of openings in the impeller, the frequency-of the ultrasonic waves generated is', therefore, a direct function of motor speed andvcan befreadily'variedrnaccordanee With the particular requirements of'the'feed material.

Yedge 37 thereof. rAn, annular dust cover 38 is placed'l() The ultrasonic Ywaves thus producedV passthroughthe slots 41 until they'strike back surface '-42 (shown inrFig.. 2,) whereupon theyl are reflected downwardly into cham# ber surfacel from whence they are again reflected outf wardly therefrom, into aV focal region 60.V

sonically rellecting sound waves into contact withinner 15 isa ,dividing wall' or vane 43. Y Y

A plurality Vof, air jets 51 are symmetricallyv spaced in radial disposition about chamber 14'and Yin substan- YThecontourenarcuate' back surface 42,",'shown 'enlarged in Fig.2, Vis preferably'in the shape .of a paraboloid ofrevolution positioned relative toone ofthe Yair jets 51 in sucha mannerY Y Ysonic waves created by theY coaction of the jets with the impeller coincides with the finite Vfecal point of the parab- 'oloid,' Thisis because, Vin theernbodimentt-of Figtj'l,

it` is Ydesired Ithat the waves i ,in paths Vsubstantially parallel tothe feedVV ow-through Y Ythe chamber to simulate origin at'infinty. Alternatively,

` the relative position ofthe paraboloidmay be shiftedV35 Y away from'thejet to provide VsubstantiallyV thesamere;v sult when thesound waves originatinggat the jet'are di- Y rected through the focal point oftheV paraboloid. 1

Vsurface 13. Intermediate each.pairgofndjacent'slots 4l' V'action ofthe ultrasonic. waves;v

The feed of material intoY ch ber.14' likewise is icontrolled by tubular portion 22 to drop through focal region 60 where the material is acted upon and fractured by the While theV preferred emi bodiment Yof this inventionV contemplatesY aY continuous be Vreflected byrthissurface- Y Y i action of surface 42 of slot 41uponthe waves) thereby simulating origin at infinity.

that the Ypoint of origin of the uma-i j Y30Y The inner sur face 13 ofV feeding arrangement, such as the Vgravity feeding Vinlet shown, -it is understood that these apparatus maybe used with equal success upon an intermittent ow of material. chamber 14 in the embodiment of Fig. Y1 is geometrically Yde'inable as a paraboloid of revolution having its axi'siofV rotation substantially coinfor focusing' the waves into focal 'region'tk As is wellA "known, a.V paraboloid ofY revolution has Vtwo Vfocal points or"regions, as they ,areV herein identified to include slight reflective imperfections, one, whichisatinlinity and onekwhich is at a iinitelocationl. lngtheembodiment of Fig..

11, the-.ultrasonic wave'sfentergchamber 174 in pathsV gen-f Vthe chamber then becomes erally ,parallel to theraxis Yof rotation (asa result of the The finite focal region of the focalY ofVV rellection into which all of fthe waves are concentrated and inwhich Y comminution is eiected.`Y Y

` ,'Iti-has been found that the maximum number of'slots Vj-a'nd-consequentlythe maximum cycles .per'impeller revo- K Vlution Vare attainedV by /e'quispacing slots Y 41 about im'- jpeller' edge "37j It has Yalso been found that, whenY de- Y Ysii-ed, the Y `can most patternof wave,impingementshownvin Fig. 6 Y Y readilyj'be obtained by eitherfrarndomlyvor Ysef quentially varying'the Vfocal lengths Vof the surfaces :42

Y of lthe respective -slots Vil `from their respective irrjetsv j51Y which is'rnostrefadily effected by altering the depth*Y For'matterrto Ybe Vvibrated inaccordance with the present invention, it is necessary only that an adequate source of vibrational energy be established. ,Howeven com- Vminution isV achieved when the vibrational energy iscar- Y ried in equal to,

Vwaves having a frequency approximately, or VVthe natural frequency ofV the material being L Vtreated. VAV greatlyY increased comminutionl output is 45 realized for a given energy input when all4 ofthe vibras p' tionalV energy is carried' by such waves.'

'Y NWhen ,the nature f `the' particles'being 'comminuted;

- OperativelyjassociatedI with impeller4 34 farefsuitable mounted'- integrally with and inV circumscribin'g relation-v mountedY coaxially withV impeller portion V35 and Yactuated 0 actuatesjb-elt 'atterrthrnughv mtfifiral Y jTo put itrranother waya minimum'of external energy is required-.toexceed the tensile strengthpof a giyen'particle when thatfenergyjis, supplied `with a frequency at or nearthe natural frequencyof the Yparticle'-of- ,material V,being treatedl because Vvibration of ithevparticle at resonancepermits theeutilization ofthe forces resulting from the greatly'increased,amplitude'fvibration occurring m'akre'fit aesirabh, that theybeanakedfbyith waves-at 55 Y f various angles las `Yshown in Fig. 6, this acti'onjismostV Y n satisfactorily obtained inthe Vrst manner described above.

A drivingl means Afor rotatingthel impeller-'at a,1pre'seleeted i Y speed.k For example, 1n Fig'. 1, ra slotted pulley'` S4 is Gordon at; sronancep 1 ov des *the* maximumramplitude of Yvibration Vand inY turn,-.maximum strain,Vv the chances, are

greatest that-for Va given fenergy 'input vmore particles will bebrolren'because more ofthem will bevihrated to v the requiredamplitude {strain} for breakage. Y@This Ywould 5. V'lead Vto* aY greater efliciency inecomlninution at resonance v because there will bea greater output -for breakage k(which Vis' the. ultimate objective, of this invention) for/a 1 given Y,amount wvess v,A't' frequencies otherithan'that-of resonance ship toimpellerfirst portion 35 and is'suitably connected, 1 ,Y as fbyra'belt 575,10 ajvariablejspeed `drive motorf56. Y Equally suitable-would be a turbine driveYV (not shown);

. particle in tension:` VY,Stated still another within theY particle as it lachieves'resonancerto breakthe Y Y, way; fori-breakage;'to"occur,'ithe particle y has fto be pulled' apart Y a given f amount, Yi.e;, subjected to a lgiven' strain. This strain Yshould, be of a magnitude in Vexcess Yof thatrequiredjforbrealage As vibraofen'ergyY generatedY at theY source offultra'sonic for-a givenenergy Vinpug'fewfparticles frwillfbe vibrated to amplitudes-'necessary -willfnlerely absorbjsome ofAjtheeenergyfbyl damping,

, Y hysteresis and i elastic deformation' lirough having vbeenV remainder fettine-'energyfor breakag'eend thether'particles harvestedi111 'tlif System as sonic energy by being dissipated through attenuation (viscous and thermodynamic dissipation) and not being .used as comminution energy. Thus, the relationship between wave frequency and the Vnatural'frequency of the material being treated is critical to the extent described above. v

An important aspect of the present invention is that the contour of the inner surface 13 of the comminution chamber 14 be of such a shape that all of the ultrasonic waves generated into contact therewith will be sonically refiected thereby into the common focal region 60.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention, which is particularly adaptable to installations in which head room is of paramountimportance, `is shown schematically in Figs. 3 and 4. The ipattelrn vof the Wave re ection for this embodiment -islrepresented by Fig. 3. As shown, the apparatus comprisesa housing v71 having a feed inlet 72 and a feed outlet 73 and defining a comminution chamber 74 comprising a plurality of reflective compartments 75, 76, 77, 78, each of which are likewise characterized by at least one finite focal region. Each of the compartments, for example, compartment 75, is provided with two openings, one`V (identified by the sufiix x) is disposed adjacent the outer end thereof and the other (identified by the suffix y) is disposed adjacent and opens into a centrally disposed focal region k80 at the other end thereof. The compartments`75-78 are disposed symmetrically aboutrand radiate from the axis of material flow 81 (shown in phantom in Fig. 3).

Ultrasonic wave generating means are operatively associated with housing 71 and comprise `an impeller 82 mounted for rotationabove feed inlet 72 in suitable ring bearings 8.3, 84 and is mounted for rotation upon housing 71 on a suitable thrust bearing 85. The details of `construction of the aforementioned bearings, as well as thosementioned in conjunction with Fig. 1, are within the province of mechanical design and need not be explained with particularity in this specification other than to say that they are sufficiently rugged to withstand the vibratory forces and high rotative speeds imposed on the apparatus, and are adequately sealed against the entrance of dust, etc.

Impeller 82 comprises a first cylindrical portion 86 circumscribing housing 71, a second cylindrical portion 87 circumscribing feed inlet 72 and riding on bearings 83, 84, and an intermediate portion 88V integrally joining the cylindrical portions and riding on thrust bearing 85. Aplurality of slots 39 separated by dividingwalls 90 define a foraminous Ybelt adjacent the lower end of impeller portion 86 and coact with a plurality of airY jets 91 symmetrically disposed adjacent the periphery of impeller 82 in alignment with the belt to generate ultrasonic waves into comminution chamber 74 on a generally horizontal plane.

All of the rotatable'impellers herein described are preferably dynamically balanced prior to operation to Reflective compartments '7S-78 are geometrically definable as ellipsoids of revolution characterized by two finite focal regions. As shown, one focal region of each compartment is located adjacent the proximal `air`jet 91 while the Ysecond occurs in` centrally disposed focal region 80. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4 each compartment has its ,receivingvfocal region within focal Yregion 83 thereby providing this region with a high concentration of ultrasonic VVWavesvfor effecting material comminution. By arranging the compartments so that their innermost focal points generally coincide, a span of Waves is provided to em- The matter to be comminuted is introducedthrough in- Y avoid any difficulty which might arise fromrrotating an Veccentric mass at the high speeds herein anticipated.

let 72 and is guided by tubular member `92 through focal region 80 wherev it is acted upon by the waves.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises the same general arrangement of parts and members as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and further includes an additional modification of the comminution chamber.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 5 (taken along the same general plane as Pig. 4), thisembodiment comprises a comminution chamber 74a having a plurality of refiective compartments 75a, 76a, 77a, 78a geometrically definable as cycloids of revolution each having their respective axes of rotation substantially normal to the axis of material ow through the device. As is true with the ellipsoid, the cycloid of revolution is also capable of reflecting generated ultrasonic'wavesinto a common focal region (see Fig. 7) although the effective reflective surface of the `cycloid is more limited than that of the ellipsoid. The cycloid further differs from the ellipsoid inthat the focal rregions it possesses, and which fulfill the requirements of the present invention within its effective refiective surface, are more `accurately considered to be quasi or pseudo focal regions rather than true focal'regions as is readily apparent to one familiar with geometric relationships. Thus in this embodiment, the ultrasonic waves lare generated adjacent the respective ends of the Several air jets 91 symmetrically disposed adjacent the periphery of impeller 82 which corresponds to one pseudo focal region of the cycloid. The waves thus generated are then reflected by the inner surfaces of the various compartments 75a-78a into their respective second pseudo focal regions which define central focal region 86a.

. Thus, as in the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, the material to 'be comminuted is directed through central focal region 89a where it is acted upon by the ultrasonic waves.

Other reective compartment configurations may readily occur to one familiar with such solid geometrical conj gurations, the only limitations being that the conguration has at least one focal region (or point) disposed at a finite location to permit the passage of solid matter and Vultrasonic waves therethroughV and an inner surface capa- 'ble of reflecting waves into that focal region. It is of Vcourse understood that all of the comminution chamvbers arenormally filled with a suitable sound transporting gaseous medium such as air, the inert gases, steam and the'like.

In the discussion of impeller slots mention was made `of the Vfact that one slot embodiment, see Figs. l and 2, is characterized by having an arcuate back surface which reflects the ultrasonic waves generated into it laway therefrom in a path which is generally normal to the original path of generation and substantially parallel to the flow of feed through the chamber thereby simulating wave generation originating at infinity, the locus of the second Vfocal point of the paraboloid.

When of course both focal regions of a given contour` have finite loci, as is the case with the described cycloid and ellipsoid of revolution, it is necessary to simulate one of the focal regions. Therefore, as shown in Pigs. 3, 4 and `5, reflective compartments having inner surface contours ylike the ellipsoid and cycloid enable the actual focal regions to be located. Thus, the point of origin of the ultrasonic waves, structurally definable as adjacentv .the end of air jets, is placed coincident With one of the focal regions as shown, andthe waves] generated therefrom, regardless of their chosen path, strike the inner surs .face and are directed therebyainrefiection therefrom into the second focal region.

in structure embodying comminution chamber inner vsurfaces defining solids having two Yfinite focal regions,

the specially designed slot ofgFigs." 1V and 2 canA be rer. 'and 5,'. In the embodiments of. Figs.r.3, tand 5, thegeneration of ultrasonic Waves occurs at a'n actual focal region of the chamber and ,therefore thereisno need forfocal region simulatim;` The waves thus. 1created in gheSe later embodiments pass in a di 1New York, 1938, page 16) guration having atleast two focal regions, Vofrwhich at least or'1e,is at 'a inite location. -lt is of' still further significance that Ythe YVgenerated ultrasonic waves'originate at a location corresponding to or 'simulatingone ofthe focalY regions Yso that any -waves generated at and trans'- mitted ,from that region will berreectedbyf any portion of the chamber surface into another ,ofthe focal regions'. Accordingly, alloffthe waves'generated by theY action of the, air streani'upon theiimpeller will be concentrated into the Yfocal region through which the material to vbe Vcomminuted'ispassed.Y Y. l

ned that the eiciencyof the appa- It has been determi ratus of the presentfinvention may be further enhanced by presizing the feed material before introducing it into Ythe" feed inlet. VBy selecting feed particles ofsilbstantially y uniform s`ize`,.the range of the natural frequencies pos'V sessed bythe several materials is more limited and consequentlymore accurately approximatedby thewave generator. The presizing can be eiected by any conventional classifying equipmentYY such for example, as' vibrating screens. 'Y

In summary, th duce the size ofY rocks, minerals and the likeby utilizing Vthe energy'of ultrasonicwnves tovibrationally excite -material Vat or near its'fnatural frequency.

To create the ultrasonic waves, a number of air iets are radially disposed-i about theperiphery of a'comrninution chamber and in linewithfan interposed im'peller rotat-V able.athigh speeds. Y The impeller is provided, with shaped.

discrete Vradial openings.

The interruption' of, the air `jet flows by the, impellerzwalls orpartitions (varies) be- Y tween the several ,imp eller openings creates the ultrasonic Vwaves; Aspreviously explained, these waves haveV a frequency equal to impeller speed times the number of ,openings. The openings are so shaped as to either simulate or 'reproducewave origin ata 4focal region ofacomminu-` ftion chamber.="The openings or slots thus vrellect and/or 'direct the waves into contact with Vthe reectiveY inner Y fcontour ofthe comminution'fchamberf'from YWhencel they Q are 'again reflectedandfocusedonto the materialrparf ticles'passingvthroughrthe -comminutionA region which cor- Y --responds to the second focal lregion o f the chamber.

'i The operationof comminutionfoccurs when the various 'parts of the individual feedparticlesarevibrated outof-v Y phase at'rcsonance., Vibrationatresonanceisefiectel by driving'theimpellerfatsuch rotationalspeed as to genj erate ultrasonic frequencies at ornear thoseof thenatural frequencies of the -feedmaterial particles'and then focusing those wavesV onto the'particles As iswell known, the

function offV YoungsY natural frequency ofA aV particle isVY aV modulus, density and particlersizr'..V` Y i i vToaid Vin a fullerunderstanding of thenatural vibration frequency, ofra material ,is'presented' (se'e: Ultrasonics and Their Scientific 'and' Technical Ap- Vplicatini-by Ludwig Bergm f particlealong its thickness (small d)., assuming no coli- 'pling x-.githfvibrationsj setup 'in ,the direction transverses e disclosedapparatusand methods re- 'the invention, the following mathematicalrelationship to determine A an, 'JohnV Wiley & Sons,=-Inc., Y

To'convert'mass density "to weight density, which is the more conventional expression of density, divide mass vdensity' by the acceleration of gravity, g (inJsec). Weight density thusis e'iq'aressed'-ir'1Y lbs./in.3 and is indi'- 5 catedby p' in the following equation: Y

Eg N l2Y @man Yis the 4me as Bergmans equation' except that it has been adjusted to the English vsystem of Ameas` ement from the c.g.s. system'lemployed by Bergman.

' fflfhe simple relationship not onlyfholds true'ffor a particle'iri"sl'1ape of infinitely large plate ofwthickess (d), Bergman (ibid, page 17,.first paragraphlshows that it also holds within Vabout .2.2% 1 for particles off limited s ize.

Fig. 9 setsrforth ,thef correlation between'thenatural frequency ,of certainexemplarymaterials, namely: slate, traprock', limestone, marble, granite, sandstone and quartz and Ytheir thickness in nches. The point on thelimestone curve correspondingu to the sample,calculationpresented below for a one inchleube of limestone is circled and Y./sec.2`; and V- .os911b./in Y 1j s.5 1o 3s6.4

2X1 0.0897 N=9 5,soo1c.p.s. 4Following.thesame procedure, the

other, of the exemplary materials, maybe calculated from lthe following'data'-.

frable'r l v[ rhystegiiPropertiesy of various minerais 1] Marel-iai YExim AKur/n.1) 'ns 0.a. p.s,i,1, (psi) (p.s.l.)

8.5 .1155 580 9, 500 3.0. '143 200 9,300 12.0 187 800 20,000 14.0 172 500 14,000 7.3 J :i700 f 19,000 8.0 V.500 12, 700 1.s ,165 24o 5,300

50. 1 The physical properties ol' stones and minerals vary widely. The

values given 1n this table arefonly representative. VAdditional data are -given u1 the following references: J'ohnsons Materials of Construction, vM. Withey and J. Aston, eighth edition, '.T Wileyfaud Sons, London,

page 258, 1939; Eshbach's Handbook, second edition, J. Wileyand Sous, pages 13-24, 1952; Formulas for Stress and Strain, .1'.5Roark. third edition', McGraw-HilL page 373, 1954; ,A New Theory of Comminutlon," #Fred C. Bond and .Ten-Tung Wang, A;I.M.E;i Transactionsvol; l87, No. 8, page 875, August, A1950;*SteekConstruction.Handbookf ith edit-ion, Americanlnstitute Steel Construction, pages 346 and 350, 1954; vand",Elements of Strength` of 'Materialsf S.=Timoshenko'and G; Mac- Collough,D. Van N ostraud Co., Toronto, page 388, 1949. 2 The moduli of elasticity in'tenslon and compression are practically v thesame (see: .Tohnsons'Materials of Construction, op.' cit., page258) ycalculatedin the manner Y' u A' 'vaine ofN for the 4asstra-its While several embodiments Aand modifications of the apparatus and methods of the present invention. have been thus described, it is understood that they are vdone so to exemplify, not to limit, the present disclosure. Such other modifications and alterationsV of the arrangement of structural elements and membersvand other specific applications of both the method and the means as may readily occur to the skilled artisan are intended to fall within the scope of this invention whose sole limitations are .expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Comminution apparatus comprising in combination: means for generating ultrasonic waves and controlling said waves to have a frequency approximating the natural frequency of a preselected mineral; means for, directing said waves into a focal region; and means for directing the preselected mineral into said focal region whereby said solid material is engaged by said ultrasonic waves region whereby said preselected mineral is engaged by said ultrasonic waves and comrninuted by vibratory forces induced therein by said waves.

2. A combination comprising: means for generating ultrasonic waves including means for selectively controlling the frequency of said Waves to approximate the natural frequency of the solid mineral to be comminuted thereby; means for concentrating said waves into a focal region; and means for directing the solid mineral to be comminuted into said focal region for comminuting engagement therein by the ultrasonic energy of said waves.

3. A combination comprising: first means for generating ultrasonic waves; control means operatively associated with said first means for selectively varying the frequency of the waves generated thereby; focusing means for concentrating said waves into a comminution region; and feed means for passing solid mineral into said region wherein that portion of said solid mineral having a natural frequency approximated by said frequency of said waves is engaged by said waves and comminuted thereby.

4. A combination comprising: first means for generating ultrasonic waves; control means operatively associated with said first means for preselecting the frequency of said waves to approximate the natural frequency of the mineral to be comminuted thereby; focusing means for concentrating said waves into a comminution region; and feed means for passing solid mineral particles into said region for comminuting engagement therein by said waves.

5. A combination comprising: a comminution chamber having an internal surface characterized by the ability to reflect sound waves impinging thereupon into a common focal region irrespective of the portion of said surface impinged upon by said waves; means operatively associated with said chamber for generating ultrasonic waves of a preselected frequency into said chamber for impinging upon said surface and refiection thereby into said focal region; and means operatively associated with said chamber for directing solid matter having a natural frequency substantially equal to said preselected frequency into said focal region for comminuting engagement by said waves,

6. A combination according to claim 5 in whichsaid comminution chamber defines a paraboloid ofrevolution having its axis of revolution coincident with the axis of ow of said matter through said chamber.

7. A combination according to claim 6 in which said means for generating said ultrasonic waves com-f prises: -a rotatable impeller having a plurality of radially extending vdiscrete slot portions defining a foraminous belt on the outer periphery thereof; and a plurality of air jets symmetricallyV disposed aboutgthe periphery of' said impeller in substantial alignment' with said belt and coactingV therewith to generate said ultrasonic wavesl .Y Vinto said chamber. y v` y 8, A combination accordingto claim 7 in which each p '1Q of said slot portions is provided with a sonically reflective back surface for reliecting said ultrasonic waves into a wall of said chamber.

9. A combination according to claim 8 in which each of said sonicallyreective back surfaces defines a parabolic segment having the respective air jets positioned yat its finite focus whereby the waves generated thereby are refiected by said surface toward its infinite focus.

10. A combination according to claim 5 in which said comminution chamber comprises a plurality of symmetrically disposed reflective compartments each of which defines a cycloid of revolution having its axis of rotation extending radially from said chamber and generally normal to the axis of flow of matter through said chamber.

11. A combination according to claim 10 in which said means forgeneratingsaid ultrasonic waves comprises a rotatable impeller having a circumferential foraminous belt defined radially therethrough and a plurality of air jets symmetrically disposed about the periphery of said impeller in substantial alignment with said belt. y

12. A combination according to claim 10 in which each of said compartments define a cycloid of revolution having an outer and an inner pseudo focal point, said outer focal point being coterminous with said generating means and said inner focal point being withinA said focal region.

13. A combination according to claim 5 in which said comminution chamber comprises a plurality of symmetrically disposed reflective compartments, each of said compartments defining an ellipsoid of revolution having its outermost focal point disposed coterminous with said generating means and its innermost focal point within said focal region.

14. The method of comminuting solid particles cornprising: generating ultrasonic waves at or near the natural frequency of the particles to resonate the particles; focusing said ultrasonic waves into a relatively small concentrated region; and directing said solid particles into said region to engage said particles whereby said solid particles yresonate and fracture in response to said waves.

l5. The method of comminuting solid particles of matter by ultrasonic energy comprising: generating a concentration of ultrasonic waves approximating the natural frequency of the matter to be comminuted into a relatively small focal region, introducing said solid particles of matter into said focal region for comminuting engagement with said waves, and discharging comminuted par ticles of matter from said region. Y

176. The method of comminuting mineral particles,

such as limestone and the like, comprising passing min-- eral particles through a region of concentrated ultrasonic waves having frequencies at or near the natural frequency of said mineral particles for engagement by said waves whereby said particles resonate and fracture in response to said engagement by said waves.

17. A combination comprising a comminution chamber vhaving a sonically reflective inner surface of the character whereby sonic waves generated at one focal point thereof are reflected to the other focal point thereof irrespective ofthe direction of departure of said waves follow from said one focal point, means operatively associated with said chamber for generating ultrasonic waves from a point of origin coinciding with said one focal point, additional means for preselectingthe frequency of said waves, and feedfrnear'rs'v for directing a.

flow of solid material through said other focalV point where, upon contact with said waves having a preselected frequency approximately the natural frequency of said 'induced therein.

material, said material is comminuted "oy, .body forces 18. A combination comprising a comminution cham- Y 11 o Y Y Y Y Y said focal regions, said Wav'e'slg sonically reflected 2,535,680@ y by said chamber in to said one of said focalV regions; y 2,617,874A

'Y additional means for-preselecting the-eqtiiicy-ofVV said .2,709,55'2

{Wvexandfeed Ineans'forvdrcig slidinat'ril through "-2-,f715,3'843` said one'of saidY focal regions where, Vupon contactV with Y5 v,2'-,f725219'V Y waves having a preselected frequency approkiiating the '22,738,172 f' Spiess et all f.-- D ec. 26, 1950 Nov. v11, 1952 Mayj31, 1955 Alugflli, 1955 NoY.` 29, 1955 Maig Y13, 1956 

